Filauro’s Homers Lead WVU over Marshall

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Senior catcher Alan Filauro hit two home runs to lead the WVU baseball team to a 10-2 victory over Marshall on Tuesday night at Hawley Field.

WVU now carries a 16-13 overall record and is winners of seven straight, while Marshall drops to 11-16 on the season.

“The thing I really like about this team is that it can come from any guy,” coach Randy Mazey says. “All of those guys in the middle of the lineup have had good games at different times and tonight it was Alan Filauro. That is a sign of a good offense when you can get production out of different guys.”

Filauro finished the day 3-for-3 and was hit by a pitch to go along with four runs and four RBIs. His home run total is now at three for the season and three in the last five games after not hitting one previously in his career.

“We made an adjustment in his swing a couple of weeks ago, something he had never even heard of,” Mazey says. “It’s working for him and he’s standing in there with a lot of confidence right now.”

Sophomore center fielder Bobby Boyd and senior right fielder Brady Wilson each recorded three hits, as the Mountaineers totaled 13 hits to the Thundering Herd’s five.

Filauro got the Mountaineers on the board in the third inning with a homer to left field to break the scoreless draw.

The Mountaineers extended the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth with four runs on five hits, led by a Wilson double down the left field line, scoring Boyd and sophomore shortstop Taylor Munden.

Filauro’s second homer of the day, a two-run blast to left field, came in the sixth inning, giving WVU a 7-2 edge. The home run scored sophomore second baseman Billy Fleming, who went 2-for-4 with two runs.

West Virginia would finish out the night by scoring three runs in the eighth inning. Boyd and Wilson each tallied an RBI in the frame, while Fleming crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Senior right-hander Dan Dierdorff would go 3.1 innings in a start that had a pitch count limit. Dierdoff allowed just one hit with two strikeouts and one walk.

Junior right-hander Ryan Tezak earned his second win of the season, allowing one hit in 2.0 innings with two strikeouts. Junior righty Corey Holmes finished the evening, striking out two in the ninth inning.

Marshall tallied its only two runs in the top of the fifth by way of an Isaac Ballou triple to right field. Aaron Bossi led the Thundering Herd with two hits.

Starter Alex Thackston took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in 4.0 innings. Thackston struck out four and walked one.

The win evens the three-game series at 1-1 with the rubber match to be played in Beckley at Linda K. Epling Stadium on May 14. Marshall took game one in Charleston on March 19, winning 8-0.

The Mountaineers will travel to Baylor to resume Big 12 play this weekend. Friday’s opener begins at 7:35 p.m., while Saturday’s game starts at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday’s finale gets underway at 2:05 p.m.

The games can be heard on the affiliates of the Mountaineer Sports Network with Morgantown affiliate WAJR 1440 AM serving as the flagship station.